his is another Whisky Cellar bottle which is available now from a selected range of stockists. For more information on the stockists and “The Whisky Cellar” you can check out an earlier article from here The Whisky Cellar Private Cellars Selection – Glentauchers 12Yo

The Distillery

Another distillery used in the Ballentine’s blends Miltonduff distillery is in the town of Elgin and founded in 1824. The distillery is another site which doesn’t feature regularly on the open market as a single malt.

A mini factoid for those who care is that between 1967 and 1981 the distillery complex was also home to “Mosstowie” which was produced using a Lomond still. That whisky again went into the Ballentine whisky brand. Something of a trend.

Last year it was announced Chivas would build a new energy efficient and sustainable distillery which will open in 2025.

The Whisky

A single cask release of 351 bottles all at the cask strength of 57.1% ABV. The spirit was distilled and put into an ex-bourbon barrel on 28th August 2012 before a finishing period in an Oloroso sherry cask. Not the usual Hogshead or whatever this time but a much much smaller quarter cask. I am not too sure I have heard of any QTR cask with Oloroso sherry. Obviously the most obvious example is the ex-bourbon ones used at Laphroaig.

Tasting Notes

Colour – rich straw

Nose – immediately this is a Christmas-y whisky and steeped alcohol fruits. richly fermenting apples

Palate – needs water to open it out but all the usual checklist of Oloroso matured whisky is here in this wood forward bottle. sherry bomb innit

Finish – the rich fruit notes really hit with the sweet wood sugars to balance it out. The sweeter side sticks out the longest

Final Thoughts

Get your Christmas bottles ordered now. This fills the Oloroso hole in everyone’s Christmas stock for sure